A: You should mow the
grass at the highest setting on your mower or at least 3 inches. Each time you
mow, you should cut no more than 1/3 of the grass height. Note: There are
exceptions for some warm season grasses such as bermuda centipede, and bentgrass
that grow more dense at lower mower settings.

Q: How should I water
my lawn?

A: You should water
deeply and infrequently. The goal for most lawns is 1" per week, and it is
best if that is delivered "all at once" instead of over several days.

Q: Should I mulch or
bag my clippings.

A: Mulch in most
cases. Mulching returns nutrients to the lawn, as well as organic matter. It
also helps to retain water. Sometimes it may be helpful to bag if you have an
annual weed infestation which is setting seeds, or if your grass has gotten
extra long between mowings.

Q: Will mulching
contribute to thatch?

A: No. Thatch is
caused by roots growing near the surface. Mulching helps to deter thatch by
helping with the decomposition process.

Q: What is the best
cultivar for my lawn?

A: Check ntep.org for
cultivar performance by state or post here and someone will help you decide.

Q: How do I level a
bumpy lawn?

A: You can fill in low
spots with a one quarter inch layer of topsoil or sand. You may have to gradually
fill in a low spot to avoid smothering the grass. Another alternative is to
lift the sod with a shovel, fill with sand or topsoil, and replace the sod.

Q: How do I get rid of
weeds?

A: Annual weeds that
grow from seed can be prevented with the application of a pre-emergent
herbicide (CGM for Organic) prior to seed germination. There is also a
pre-emergent herbicide to prevent many perennial type broadleaf weeds. After
the weeds appear, you can apply a post-emergent herbicide or pull the weeds by
hand.

Q: Which is better,
spike or core aeration?

A: Core aeration is
preferred because it removes small cores of dirt to ease compaction. Spike
aeration can compress some types of soil and add to compaction issues. However,
spike aeration is best for sandy type soils.

Q: Can I overseed my
lawn and still apply a pre-emergent for weeds?

A: The majority of
pre-emergents prevent germination for all types of seeds. A newer pre-emergent
under the name Tupersan is a selective pre-emergent that can be used at the
time of seeding to prevent weed seed germination and allow grass seed
germination.